Heat-exchange apparatus



July 1, 1930. A B. MODINE HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed May 28, 26 Z SheetS-Sheet 2 Fatented duty 3,

PATET THUR B. MODINE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS Application filed Ma ne,- 1926. Serial n 112,377.

My invention relates to heat exchange apparatus and has'among its other b]ects the production of apparatus of the kind described which-is compact, convenient, durable, efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the kind described which may be quickly and easily assembled and dismantled.

Another particular object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for operatively connecting a radiator core to a steam or hot water system or the equivalent.

Several forms of the invention are embodied'in means whereby a radiator core may be quickly and easily connected in a steam or hot water system and may be quickly and easily disconnected therefrom. -The connecting means comprises hollow or tubular members which are preferably provided with ground surfaces or the equivalent engageable with each other, the radiator core being in communication with the steam or hot water pipes through the tubular or hollow members, bolts extending through the tubular or hollow members for securing the radiator core thereto being readily accessible when the core is to be disconnected from the steam or hot water pipes.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious-to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more. particularly pointed out in the claims. d

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan elevation of a radiator core and apparatus whereby the radiator core is operatively connected to a hot water system, my invention being embodied in the radiator core and theconnecting apparatus.

Fig. 2is a side elevation of the radiator core and apparatus shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3' is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken through a radiator core and apparatus embodying another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

I Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a radiator core and apparatus for connecting it to a hot water system, a preferred form of the invention being embodied in said apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the radiator core and apparatus shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8- 8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken through a radiator core and apparatus embodying'ianother form of the invention;-and Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, wherein I have shown one form of the invention embodied in apparatus comprising a radiator core of the type more fully shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial N 0. 112,376, filed May 28,

' 1926,- the improved radiator core is designated generally by the reference character 12 and preferably comprises spaced tanks 14 and 15 which may be formed of any suitable material, but are preferably cast or molded. The tanks 14 and 15 communicate with each other through a plurality of tubes 17 which are preferably formed from relatively thin sheet metal, and, in this instance, are provided with fins 18 arranged transversely thereof, the fins 18 being provided with aper-- tures 19 for accommodating the tubes and being preferably soldered-to the tubes. The ends of each tube 17 are soldered or otherwise secured to relatively thin plates 21 and 22 which are, in turn, secured to the tanks 14 and 15, respectively. The tanks 14 and 15 are connected to each other by reinforcingside bars or members 24, each of which has one end rigidly secured to the tank 14 by screws 25 or the equivalent. The other end of the bar 24 is secured to the tank 15. by screws 27 or the equivalent, which pass through'longitudinal slots 29 formed in the- .ture 33 into which a tubular fitting or member 34 is screw-threaded, the member 34 being preferably provided with a nut portion 35 intermediate its ends. The outer end of the tubular fitting 34 is preferably provided with a tapered annular surface 36 engageable with a similar surface 37 formed in one end of a hollow fitting 38. It will be ncted that the ipe 30 is screw-threaded into the lower end of the hollow fitting 38 associated with the tank 14 and that the pipe 31 is screw-threaded into the hollow fitting 38 associated with the tank 15. The hollow fittings 38 are preferably provided with spiders 40 having screwthreaded apertures 41 adapted to be engaged by bolts 42 inserted through apertures 45 formed in the tanks 14 and 15. Each bolt 42 is preferably provided with a'head 47 and a gasket 48 or the equivalent is preferably interposed between the head 47 and the associated tank. Obviously, the bolts 42 may be manipulated to draw the fittings 34 and 38 into relative positions wherein the surfaces 36 seat snugly in the surfaces 37. In practice, I preferably grind the surfaces 36 and 37 but my invention is limited to this feature only to the extent defined in the appended claims.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown another form of the invention embodied in apparatus which permits the radiator core 12 to be quickly and easily connected to a steam heating system. In such instance, it is unnecessary to provide both of the pipes 30 and 31 and either may be dispensed with, the radiator core being connected in the heating system by means I of the other. In this instance, the pipe 31 is dispensed with and the threaded aperture 33 provided in the tank 15 is closed by a screwthreaded plug 50 into which one end of a bolt 52 is screw-threaded, the bolt 52 being used in place of the corresponding bolt 42 and being preferably provided with a head 53 As shown, packing 54 or the equivalent is inserted between the head 53 and the tank 15.

When the radiator core 12 is operatively connected to a steam heating s stem by means of a single pipe which com unicates with one of the tanks 14 and 15,the other tank is preferably provided with an integral lug 55 in which a vertically disposed rod or post 57 is slidably journaled. V A set screw 58 screw-threaded into the lug 55 may be manipulated to rigidlysecure the post 57 to the lug 55 so that the post 53 will form a support for the associated end of the radiator core 12. When the radiator core 12 is used in connection with a steam heating system, a vacuum valve 16 of the type commonly employed in steam heating systems is preferably mounted upon one of the tanks 14 or 15 to provide means whereby air may escape from the system. In this instance, I have shown the valve 16 mounted upon the tank 15.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 wherein Ihave shown another form of the invention, a radiator core 60 resembling the aforementioned radiator core 12 in construction is preferably disposed so that air passing between tubes 62 forming part of the core must travel horizontally. The core 60 comprises spaced tanks 63 and 64 which communicate with each other through the tubes 62, the tanks being 68 engageable with an annular tapered surface 69 formed upon a hollow L-shaped fitting 70. The radiator core is adapted to be connected in a hot water system by means comprising pipes71 and 7 2,the ipe71beingscrewthreaded into the fitting associated with the tank 63 and the pipe 72 being screwthr'eaded into the fitting 70 associated with the tank 64. Rods or bolts 74 projecting through the tanks 63 and 64 extend through the tubular fittings 67 and are screw-threaded into basses 75 formed upon the fittings 70. Nuts 77 screw-threaded upon the outer ends of the bolts 74 may be manipulated to rigidly secure the radiator core 60 to the fittings 70, the nuts 77 being adapted to draw the surfaces 68 formed upon the tubular fittings 67 against the tapered surfaces 69 formed upon the fittings 7 O. In practice, the tapered surfaces 68 and 69 are preferably ground to fit each other. As shown, packing 79 is preferably positioned between the nuts 77 and the, tanks 63 and 64.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have illustrated apparatus for supporting one end of a vertically disposed radiator core which has its other end connected to a steam heating system. Thus, I have shown a tank 64* which is substantially identical in construction with the-afore- 87 is screw-threaded. It willbe noted that the rod 87 passes through an aperture 89 formed in the'wall of the tank 64 and that a nut 90 is screw-threaded onto the outer end of the rod which is adapted to compress a packing ring 92 positioned between the tank 64 and the nut. The plug 86 is preferably provided with a nut-like portion 94 so that the plug may be manipulated by a wrench or the equivalent.

It is readily understood that the improved radiator cores described above may be quickly and easily connected into steam-or 'hot.

water heatin systems or the equivalent, it being only necessary to bring the annular tapered faces of the tubular fittings 34 or 67 into engagementvwith the annular tapered faces of the'fittings 38 or 70, respectively, after which the bolts 42 or 7 4'may be employed to secure the radiator cores in place. When the radiator cores are made parts of steam .heating systems, as illustrated in Figs, 4 and 9, it is not necessary to. provide tanks 15 and 64 with the screw-threaded apertures 33 and 66 frespectively, but I prefer to do so as the tanks are substantially of one standard form and the apertures may be readily closed by means of the aforementioned plugs -and 86.

- radiator cores.

Having'thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction. arrangement and combination-of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a radiator core provided with an opening having a frustoconical surface formed thereon, of means for supporting the core comprising a pipe for connecting it to a supply of heated fluid, said pipe being spaced laterally from th'e'core, hollow means extending from. the core to the pipe and provided with a frusto-conical surface engaging the first-mentioned ,frustoconical surface, and removable means extending through the hollow means for securing the core thereto. 1

2. The combination with a radiator core, of means, for supportingthe core comprisin a pipe for connecting it to a supply of heate fluid, said pipe being in communication with i one end of the core and being the sole support therefor, and adjustablemeans for supporting the other end of the core and said core being adjustable upon an axis coincident with the axis of the pipe. 3

3. The combination with a-radiator core, of means for supporting the core comprising a pipe for connecting it to a supply of heated fluid, quickly detachable means for connecting one end of the core to the pipe, said pipe i being the sole support for said end, and adjustable means for supporting the other end of the core.

4'. The combination with a radiator core comprising a plurality of connected tanks, of

a plpe for connecting the'core to a supply of heated fluid, a hollow member screw-threaded upon the pipe and communicating with one of said tanks, said members being comprised .of sections, means extending through the core' and said hollow member for securing them to each other, and means for supporting the other tank, said core being adjustable upon an axis coincident with the axis of the 'hollow member.

5. The combination'with a radiator core comprising a plurality of connected tanks,

of means for connecting the core to a: pipe,

said means comprising a hollow. member communicating with one of said tanks and adapted to be screw-threaded upon the pipe, a bolt extending through the core and the hollow member for securing them to each other, said core being adjustable about an axis coincident with the axis of the bolt, and means for supporting the opposite end of said core.

loo

6. The combination with a radiator core comprising a plurality of connected tanks,

of means for connecting one-end of the core to a pipe, means for adjustably supporting the opposite end of the core, said first-mentioned means comprising a hollow sectional member communicating with one of said tanks and adapted to b screw-threaded upon the pipe, means ext en ing through the core and the hollow member for rotatably securing them to each other and providing means whereby said core may be adjusted upon an axis coincident with the axis of the means extending through said core.

. 7. The combination with a radiator core comprising a plurality of tanks, of a pipe disposed directly in back of one of the tanks for connecting it to a supply of heated fluid, and means including means extending through said tank and accessible solely from the front thereof for connecting it to said pipe. a

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. 1

' ARTHUR B. MODINE. 

